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Glenn Phillips started his Twenty20 career by fulfilling his much touted talent when taking out the CricHQ MVP for the McDonalds Super Smash, in what was his debut season for the Aces.

The expressive right hand opening bat is typical of the millennial player who have grown up when reverse sweeps, switch hits and cover drives for six are about ‘execution’ – not a brain fade.

​Phillips is pretty handy behind the stumps as well – another one of the crop of young multi-skilled cricketers starting to stamp their mark in the New Zealand domestic scene.

Tasked with opening the innings Phillips was in scintillating form to lead the run scoring stats with 369 runs – slightly ahead of the legendary Mahela Jayawardene who was second with 367. Phillips tally included a breakthrough century (116*) in the last round robin match, as the Aces chased a playoff spot, and also another three half centuries – all of this at a strike rate of 143.02. Not bad for a rookie.

Jayawardene and Phillips traded placed atop the CricHQ MVP batting table, but it is the additional contribution that Phillips provides to his team in the field that saw him accumulate a total of 64.94 MVP points (43.22 batting, 21.72 fielding).

The new CricHQ MVP formula provides a clear insight into the key performers throughout the competition and as expected there is an increased bias toward batsmen shining through in the format most suited to positive expression with the willow.

However, pursuit of the McDonalds Super Smash title is what drives the players and the Stags will be rueing the fact that their key MVP performers from throughout the competition were kept quiet during the Super Smash final by the experienced Firebirds side.